Start with a Free Assessment
The Cost of WaitingÂ
The Cost of WaitingÂ
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What happens if you wait
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Most congregations don't think about security until after something happens - a threat, an incident nearby, an insurance carrier asking questions you can't answer. By then you're making decisions under pressure, not planning. Without a documented security framework, your congregation is exposed in three ways:
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No plan means no speed. In an active threat or a disaster, the first ten minutes decide outcomes. Untrained staff and volunteers freeze or improvise - congregations with a rehearsed plan respond in seconds, not minutes.
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No documentation means no coverage. Many insurers and grant programs (including the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program) require a documented risk assessment or security plan before they pay out or approve funding. Waiting can cost you both.
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No baseline means no accountability. If an incident happens and your congregation never assessed its risk, that gap becomes a liability question for your leadership and board - not just a safety one.
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This isn't about fear. It's about closing the gap between "we care about safety" and "we have a plan that works."
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Why FBSRI
Faith communities of every tradition - churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other houses of worship - serve as gathering places built on trust and openness. That same openness has made them targets. In response to a rise in targeted violence against congregations nationwide, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security formed a national subcommittee dedicated specifically to protecting faith-based communities.
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FBSRI was built to bring that same level of seriousness - and 40 years of hands-on federal and corporate security experience - directly to the organizations doing this work every day: pastors, rabbis, imams, security teams, and congregation leadership boards.We are intentionally inclusive of every faith tradition. Security and resilience are not denominational — they are a responsibility every congregation shares.
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FBSRI is led by Curtis E. Jones, appointed to the DHS Faith-Based Advisory Council in 2022 to help shape national strategy on targeted violence and terrorism prevention, and formerly the FBI InfraGard Deputy National Sector Chief for Commercial Facilities (Creator of the National Faith-Based/Religious Facilities Protection Program). His work sits at the intersection of federal homeland security policy and hands-on program delivery - not theory, but programs built and tested in the field.
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Who We Serve
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Individual congregations and houses of worship of any faith tradition
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Denominational and diocesan risk management offices
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Faith-based nonprofits and affiliated schools
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Regional and national faith networks seeking standardized safety programs
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Our Services
01.Security Program Framework
This service guides faith-based organizations in establishing a robust and tailored security framework. It covers physical security, personnel safety, and threat assessment protocols to create layered defenses. We help integrate best practices from law enforcement and emergency management into your specific operational context to foster a secure environment.
02.Preparedness Plan Development
Develop a detailed and actionable emergency preparedness plan designed for faith-based communities. This plan addresses various scenarios, including natural disasters, civil unrest, and active threat situations. Our team ensures your organization is ready to respond effectively, minimizing risks and ensuring the safety of all attendees and staff.
03.Resilience Strategy Implementation
Implement a strategic approach to enhance the long-term resilience of your faith organization. This service focuses on building capacity for response, recovery, and adaptation to disruptive events. We empower your community to withstand and bounce back from crises, fostering continuous operational strength and community support.
Expertise & ExperienceÂ
Leadership Rooted in Service
Curtis E. Jones
Founder, The Authority Strategy | Founder, National Faith-Based Security and Resilience Institute
Curtis E. Jones has spent more than 40 years building security programs and leading resilience efforts across federal law enforcement, emergency management, and critical infrastructure protection. His career spans service as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal in Washington, D.C., six years with the U.S. Army Military Police and Criminal Investigation Division in Europe, and national leadership roles within FBI InfraGard - including President and CEO of the San Diego chapter's 900+ member network and Deputy National Sector Chief for Commercial Facilities, with a specific focus on the Faith-Based/Religious Facilities Protection Program.
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In 2022, Curtis was appointed to the Department of Homeland Security's Faith-Based Advisory Council, contributing directly to national strategy on preventing targeted violence and terrorism against faith communities.This national vantage point - seeing threat patterns against houses of worship across the country, is what led Curtis to found FBSRI: a dedicated practice bringing federal-level threat awareness down to the congregation level, in plain, actionable terms for the people actually responsible for Sunday morning, Friday prayers, or Shabbat services.
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That same experience underpins The Authority Strategy's work with corporate executives and government agencies - building leaders and organizations that hold under pressure, regardless of the environment they operate in.
Credentials at a glance:
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DHS Faith-Based Advisory Council - Appointed 2022
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FBI InfraGard Deputy National Sector Chief - Appointed 2021
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InfraGard San Diego President & CEO - 900+ member network
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Special Deputy U.S. Marshal, Washington D.C.
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U.S. Army Military Police & CID - Six years, Europe
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TRUSTED
PUBLICATIONS & GOVERNMENT WORK
Curtis has served directly on U.S. Department of Homeland Security advisory work shaping national policy on faith-based community security - not as a cited expert, but as a named author and committee leader on official federal reports submitted to the DHS Secretary.
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Featured Publications
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Countering and Responding to Targeted Violence and Terrorism (TVT) Subcommittee Final Report Faith-Based Security Advisory Council (FBSAC), U.S. Department of Homeland Security — June 24, 2024 Role: Vice Chair, alongside Chair Michael Masters (National Director & CEO, Secure Community Network) This report was submitted to then-DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas following a 120-day review that included site visits to Pittsburgh, PA (Tree of Life Synagogue) and Charleston, SC (Mother Emanuel AME Church), and consultation with survivors, law enforcement, and faith leaders nationwide.
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It produced a national "best practices toolkit" framework and recommendations spanning intelligence sharing, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, CISA Protective Security Advisors, and victim support. View on DHS.gov →
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Building Trust and Partnerships Subcommittee Final Report Faith-Based Security Advisory Council (FBSAC), U.S. Department of Homeland Security — June 6, 2023 Role: Subcommittee Member, alongside Chair Salam Al-Marayati (Muslim Public Affairs Council) and Vice Chair Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune (National Council of Churches USA)
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This report addressed how DHS can build trust with faith community stakeholders across diverse traditions and empower local leaders to mobilize federal resources in response to threats. View on DHS.gov →
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Both reports are public records available on DHS.gov
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Our Approach
Strategic Assessment
We conduct comprehensive risk evaluations to identify vulnerabilities and establish a baseline for resilience within your congregation.
Resilience Planning
Developing tailored security programs that integrate federal-grade expertise with the unique cultural and spiritual context of your faith community.
Operational Readiness
Implementing rigorous preparedness plans that ensure your organization can hold under pressure during any emergency or crisis event.
Getting StartedÂ
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What it's actually like to work with us.  You don't need to overhaul what you already have, and you don't need to sign anything to find out where you stand.
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1. Start free. Take one of our no-cost training programs — Securing Sacred Spaces, Building Organizational Resilience in Houses of Worship, or Crisis Management and Safety Planning for Faith Groups — or request a short introductory conversation. No commitment, no cost.
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2. We assess what's already in place. If you have a security committee, an usher team doing informal safety checks, or a plan from a few years ago, we start there. Our job is to build on it, not replace it for the sake of replacing it.
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3. We hand you a plan you can actually run. [PLACEHOLDER: confirm typical timeline, e.g. "Most congregations have a documented framework in place within 4–6 weeks."] You'll know exactly what's expected of your staff, volunteers, and leadership at each step.
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This fits around your existing routines - not the other way around.Â